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The Department of Public Health has urged people in one of the regions most affected by Covid-19 cases in the country tonight, where gardai is investigating alleged violations of public health guidelines during Christmas, to “avoid the big social gatherings of any kind for New Years celebrations. ” “To stop the spread of the virus.
There have been 800 positive cases of Coronavirus here in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary combined over the past two weeks, the Mid West Health Department said.
A spokesperson for the department said there was “growing concern about the impact of Christmas celebrations on the spread of Covid-19 in the community.”
It comes when the Gardaí said on Tuesday that they were “preparing files for the Director of the Public Ministry following the incidents found by the Gardaí in Rathkeale during the Christmas period involving meetings of large groups in private establishments and on the city’s public thoroughfare.
Residents of Rathkeale and traveler rights group Pavee Point have separately raised concerns about the traditional movement of large numbers of the traveling community from Britain, where a more communicable form of the virus was detected before it reached Ireland, to Rathkeale, during the pandemic.
More than 1,000 visitors have traveled to the western city of Limerick in recent weeks, prompting fears of a possible explosion of cases locally.
Gardaí is investigating after several house parties allegedly occurred in the city during Christmas.
According to the department spokesman, the “vast majority” of the 800 cases in the region during the last 14 days were “recorded in Limerick”.
In December, due to the nature of the holiday season, the department saw three weeks of higher-level social gatherings from multiple households that escalated in the run-up to the Christmas holidays.
Preliminary evidence from the department indicates that gatherings between extended families, in private homes, organized events, and in the hospitality sector have been contributing factors in local outbreaks.
“We know that the virus has been circulating widely for almost four weeks in the community and has spread through these extended social gatherings before Christmas.
“However, while we continue to closely monitor the possible impact of the Christmas celebrations, we fear that the large family gatherings in recent days may have added an additional layer to what is already a complex situation locally,” said Dr. Mai Mannix, Director of Public Health. Midwest.
“We don’t want a situation where new domestic cases bring undetected Covid-19 to new settings in the community for the next few days. This would make complex outbreaks increasingly difficult to manage, ”added Dr. Mannix.
“Any effort to follow public health guidelines can and will prevent serious illness and protect the most vulnerable, especially as the winter days turn colder.”
The department also revealed worrying statistics, showing that nearly 1,000 people in the region did not show up for tests scheduled for December 24-28.
A spokesperson for the Department called on the public “to answer phone calls from contact trackers, who are doing their best to trace the spread of Covid-19.”
“We also urge members of the public who have arranged a Covid-19 swab to attend the testing center and in the allotted time, as we continue to see many people missing their appointments.”
Meanwhile, a Garda spokesperson reiterated that the pandemic “remains a public health crisis and An Garda Síochána continues to call on all citizens to comply with public health guidelines and regulations.”
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